Chinese Crested Health & Information from Autumn-Argus Farm is a collection of relevant articles providing you valuable information on Chinese Crested health, maintenance, informative ideas, years of breeder experience and other pertinent information. We have selected articles from experts in veterinary medicine, Chinese Crested breeding and others from around the world. Please do send us your favorite articles to share and we will include them here in our Chinese Crested Health & Information.
Obviously, we show Chinese Crested and have found certain foods, practices and therapies that work for us and allow us to present the best possible dogs and puppies. Therefore, we have our own opinions and tend to express them here and are always willing to discuss them at any time. Some of these articles are reprinted with permission and as such are duly noted. Now grab your favorite beverage, relax, learn and enjoy!
Please note that not everyone agrees on the same thing, including what foods, medicines, frequencies and a whole plethora of topics. We highly recommend that you listen to your breeder and consult your pet's veterinarian for specific advice for which you are unsure.
Is It Okay to Spoil Your Cat and Pamper Your Pooch?
by Dr. Larry Siegler, DVM
Veterinarian, Only Natural Pet Store, LLC
One of the questions I always ask of new clients that come to see me is "Where does Fido/Fluffy sleep?" I typically ask this amongst a variety of other more health related questions about diet, supplements, exercise, etc. so the client is caught a bit off guard. I smile to myself when almost all of them sheepishly answer "In my bed with me." Many new clients are hesitant at first to tell me how pampered their companions truly are, but once they get to know me, they begin to almost boast about it. I encourage the practice of "spoiling" companion animals – "healthy spoiling" that is.
Do you have an entire closet dedicated to cat or dog toys? Do you spend so much time at dog parks that it has become a major part of your social life? Do your friends raise their eyebrows when you mention that you have to pick your cat up at the groomer's? Do you hide the receipts for your companion's food before your mother comes over? Your Mother may not approve, but your veterinarian will! Play, exercise, proper grooming and top quality food are all good for any animal's health and well-being. And believe it or not, you are in good company. "Spoiling" our animal companions has risen to new heights in recent years.
So what is healthy and what is … well, going overboard? If it's good for the cat or dog, and doesn't bust your budget or cause you stress, it's probably healthy. If you find yourself annoyed by behaviors that have been encouraged by spoiling – like begging, then it's probably not healthy.
One client recently confessed she spent over $600 installing a cat enclosure so her cats could go outside safely. Is this overboard? Well, that depends on what you can afford. For many cat lovers, a one time expense of this sort is an easy decision when they know they are improving their cats' long term mental and physical well being by giving them access to fresh air and playful romps in the yard. Fresh air helps prevent respiratory illness and outdoor time gives cats hours of pleasure in watching the comings and goings of the birds, squirrels, and neighborhood dogs.
Many people spend up to $200 per month (or more) on doggy daycare. Not too long ago there was typically one household member (usually Mom) home with the dog most of the day. Our society has changed and there are more single people with dogs and couples in which both members of the household work. That leaves the dog home alone – bored, lonely and with too little exercise – a perfect setup for "mischief." Doggy daycare is not only healthy for the dog, it relieves all that heavy guilt from leaving your friend behind every day, so it's good for you, too!
When it comes to treats for our dogs and cats we have a thousand different ways to spoil our companions. There are gourmet treats, hypoallergenic treats, designer health treats with herbs or joint support supplements added and, of course, cookbooks for home-made treats. I love feeding my "clients" treats. I keep biscuits handy for dogs and freeze-dried meats for the cats. I also recommend healthy leftovers from your own meals as treats or even part of the diet.
Healthy leftovers include lean meats or fish for both dogs and cats. In addition, dogs may enjoy steamed veggies, tofu, tempe and fruit. Many cats love cantaloupe. (Onions, grapes, raisins and chocolate are to be avoided.) Healthy leftovers are different from "table scraps" which usually include the fat trimmed from meat, poultry skin and the potatoes with gravy left on someone's plate. Give them healthy, nutritious leftovers – not fatty scraps or lots of carbohydrates. Obesity is one of the worst problems our animal companions face. It is our responsibility to help our pets stay fit and healthy. When you give lots of treats or leftovers, cut back on their regular meal to compensate for the added calories. And to avoid the begging behavior, never feed your cat or dog from your plate or from the table. Wait until the meal is over and the dishes are done, then put the leftovers in your companion's own dish for them to enjoy.
So go ahead – indulge your friend. A new leash, a fancy bowl, a cushy bed (for when he's not sharing yours), gourmet treats – whatever fits your budget and makes you both happy! And if your Mom sees the receipt, tell her a veterinarian recommended it!
© 2005 Only Natural Pet Store, LLC
Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission
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As flea season is in full swing in many areas around the country, we are realizing that some of you may need a bit of guidance with the war you are waging in your households. There are so many products available for fighting the battle against fleas that a trip to the pet store or a little research on-line can leave you a bit overwhelmed and bewildered. There are three stages, or areas to address, in the flea eviction process; the companion animal – internally and externally, the household environment, and the great outdoors. But before we wage war, it is best to know thine enemy. If you live in an area with a predictable flea season – treat a month before it starts. If you live in the south where flea season is every season, start now and plan to treat your home regularly. Using natural methods is a bit more work than dropping a spot of pesticides on their back, but in the long run your companion and your environment will be healthier for your efforts. Owners are often tempted to switch their puppies very early to adult food: they do that for economical reasons, because they underestimate the duration of growth, or because they falsely think that "too-rich-puppy food" could be harmful to growth. It is important to keep in mind how different the puppy's nutritional requirements are compared to adults. Pet owners should wait until the end of growth before switching their puppy to an adult product. There is no disadvantage to feeding a puppy food longer than initially planned, provided the bodyweight of the dog is not excessive.
Our animal companions are natural hunters and carnivores; just look at their ancestry. The dog at your feet (or on your sofa) has evolved from the wolf, and it's digestive system is virtually the same despite thousands of years of domestication. They have very short intestinal tracts geared to the consumption and digestion of raw foods. Dogs are considered "omnivores" as they eat a variety of grasses, berries and vegetables in addition to prey. Raw food diets have been shown to help the body deal with many common ailments such as flea infestations, hot spots, continual shedding, poor dental & gum health, allergies, gastro-intestinal problems, immune disorders and degenerative diseases.
Diet is the foundation of health. The fresher the diet, the more nutrients are available for the animal's system to utilize in building immunity, healing from illness and warding off disease. Autumn-Argus Farm Chinese Crested are raised with a diet that includes raw ground chuck, served at room temperature, every day in addition to dry food. You should continue this diet at home and reap the benefits of serving your dog raw meat. It's only natural! When parents find out they are going to have a child they make all sorts of preparations. A room is set aside and possibly the walls are covered with an appropriate wallpaper or paint, a supply of formula fills the pantry, baby bottles and diapers are purchased in huge quantities, toys and pacifiers are picked out, the baby's doctor is selected, etc. You need to make the same preparations for the puppy, and think about the equipment you will need, the car ride home, and the puppy's activities, feeding, and health care check-up.
Puppies have a tremendous amount of energy and natural curiosity, and they love to explore the world around them. This is part of what makes them so much fun, but it can also lead them into harmful situations. Before you bring your new puppy home, make sure you survey your home for potential dangers. In many ways, making your home safe for a puppy is similar to making your home safe for a toddler. Bringing home a new puppy is a time of fun and excitement. Following these tips will help you keep your new friend safe, so that the two of you can enjoy each other's company for years to come. |
Over the years, we have found that there are many, many, misconceptions about the immunity that puppies derive from their mothers. When a puppy is born, her immune system is not fully developed. Therefore, on her own, this animal would be completely susceptible to almost any infectious condition. If a serious disease were encountered, the animal would probably die. Fortunately, this is not the case, as Mother Nature has devised a method to provide newborn animals with protection: colostrum, the first milk. The puppies are here. They have been weighed and identified; they have nursed and are now sleeping quietly (except for the normal twitching). Now what? Your job is far from done. Within 2-3 days, the bitch's appetite will dramatically increase to 2-4 times her pre-pregnancy intake. She will need a near constant supply of a high quality puppy food and water to maintain her weight and health while feeding the puppies. The list goes on! If your dog is going to live inside the home, and in America over 90% of our pets do, you are going to have to go through the housebreaking process unless you have grossly different hygienic standards than most. It is not hard, it need not be messy, and it need not be a struggle. It does not have to take a long time. Remember that it is a training issue and you will need to have more than casual input. It will take some of your time but the more involved you get, the shorter that span will be. Here is a simple blurb on ear taping that might help. There are no hard and fast rules on ear taping procedures. Done correctly, most ears will stand erect. Anything that works for you is correct. The ears can be rolled, twisted or tilted. Most guardians have never been told the truth about vaccinations. On the contrary, you are likely to get annual notices from your veterinarian that your companion is "due for their annual booster shots". The evidence against vaccinating, however, is overwhelming. Most veterinarians just choose to ignore the research because they don't want to lose the income from giving booster shots to all those animals each year. A dog from one of the smaller breeds runs across the yard chasing a tossed ball. In mid-stride, he yelps in pain and pulls his left hind leg off of the ground. After a second, he continues limping on in a three-legged fashion. After ten minutes, the rear leg drops back down to the ground and he uses it normally. This episode occurs maybe once a week. It never really seems to bother him that much — a yelp of pain, a short period of lameness, and in a few minutes he is back to his old self.  |
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